EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Meath
Raystown, Co. Meath
Early Medieval Settlement-Cemetery and Agricultural Complex
Grid reference: O04975147 (304976/251474)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence No: 03E1229
Excavation duration: October 2003 - 2004
Site director: M. Seaver (CRDS Ltd.)
Raystown, excavated in advance of the N2 road-scheme, was a large enclosed settlementcemetery
and agricultural complex that was in use for at least 600 years between the early
fifth and twelfth centuries (Fig. 247). The site was located on a north-south ridge – between
65m and 71m OD – in an area of mostly low-lying land. It was bounded by a river, streams
and an area of water-logged ground on three sides. Geophysical prospection revealed a
palimpsest of further activity notably to the west of the excavation.
Phases of Activity at Raystown
The director, Matthew Seaver, has identified a number of phases at Raystown. The initial
activity was focused on a penannular burial enclosure on top of the ridge that was dated
between the fourth and sixth centuries. It measured 22m north-south by 18m east-west.
Eight of the twenty radiocarbon-dated human burials came from this phase and six of these
were clustered close to the centre of the enclosure (see below for radiocarbon dates). One of
them cut the ditch and was dated to A.D. 432-602 which suggests that the ditch was backfilled
by the end of the sixth century. Broadly contemporary cereal-drying kilns were situated
to the south and north-east of the burial ground.
During Phase II (A.D. 500-700) a 50m diameter outer burial enclosure was dug concentrically
around the original cemetery enclosure. It was probably created in the sixth century. A rim
fragment of an imported continental glass vessel – dating between the fifth and seventh
centuries – came from the lower plough-soil within the enclosure while a date of A.D. 654-
779 was obtained from the northern part of the enclosure ditch. Further burials were placed
in the newly expanded area.
Settlement evidence belonging to this phase was identified to the north of the cemetery and
consisted of several gullies and an earth-cut souterrain. Postholes along the latter’s
passageways indicate that it was roofed and it had a circular chamber with a ring of postholes
cut into the floor and walls. Cereal grain from one of the postholes was dated between the
mid sixth and mid seventh centuries.
Two substantial northwest-southeast boundaries were constructed during Phase II. One may
have functioned as a mill-race while the other was fed by a series of north-south gullies and
ditches, which drained from a terminal at the junction of the outer burial enclosure. They
were both re-cut numerous times – like many of the ditches at Raystown – and they enclosed
a number of hearths and pits.
Also associated with this phase was considerable arable activity in the northern and southern
parts of the site. Four figure-of-eight-shaped cereal drying kilns were present; two in each
area. The southern kilns were associated with gullies which drained into a substantial ditch
that was possibly the tailrace of a mill.
The outer burial enclosure was reduced in size on the northern side and became D-shaped
during the latter part of this phase and a large drainage ditch was constructed to the north of
it.
Phase III (A.D. 600-800) witnessed the digging of a sub-rectangular enclosure around the
burial ground and northern habitation area and enclosed an area of 60m 2 . It replaced the
earlier outer burial enclosure. Large quantities of burnt grain were present in the ditch and
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